UTG INTERVIEW: Grenadina Give Details On New Record

September 11th, 2013

Matthew Leimkuehler

Grenadina are a group of fun and furious girl-rockers from Lawrence, Kansas. Mixing the creative influences of Vedera and Brand New, Grenadina recently released a refreshing dose of alternative rock with their latest effort, Get Shallow. The new EP contains songs ready to blast this group to the next level.

The lead single, “Locomotion,” is the dark, artist-defining track for the record. Lead singer Katie Ford launches into the lines, “You pulled my heart strings, as I tried to gasp for air. I beg you quietly, but your cold eyes don’t care,” as she captivates listeners with her stout and soft delivering on the single. Listeners will also find diversity within Get Shallow. Songs like “Tina Needs A GF” could pass for a ‘90s alternative number worthy of Hole, while the opener, “Hot Mess,” better parallels a modern-day indie rock number.

Grenadina have set out to stun the skeptics with Get Shallow. It is apparent after the first listen that these girls plan to hold nothing back as they dive deeper into their career. Get Shallow is a female-rock record that no boy or girl should have trouble falling in love with. In an exclusive interview with UTG, Steph Castor (guitar) and Stefanie Petrozz (drums) break down everything any fan wants to know about the new record, including the recording process, influence and what people are to expect from Grenadina for the rest of 2013.

How has response from the debut single, “Locomotion,” been?

Stefanie Petrozz: So far so great! Everyone has seemed to taken really well to the album. It’s truly a surprising and wonderful feeling to get such great feedback on something we worked so hard to create.

Steph Castor: Amazingly. We’ve only gotten one complaint about “Locomotion,” and that was because this person thought the song was too short. Like, it was too abrupt. But that just means that the song translated the exact way that we wanted it to. It’s kind of meant to embody a beautiful destruction, so to speak, and one that comes out of nowhere. A lot of people seem to really connect with that song and it perhaps is our most emotionally driven of the bunch.

You went to Vibe Studios in Cleveland for this record — what attracted you to that studio?

Stefanie Petrozz: Johnny Burke. He’s the only reason we traveled so far. We went for quality of production, which we more than received. And to have that experience together—worth it 100%.

Steph Castor: Our friends in Home & Away actually introduced us to Johnny. They had recorded their EP Still Breathing with him, and we were some of the first to hear even just the rough tracks. We were in love with the quality and precision he was able to deliver, and he just happened to be running a really amazing deal. So we snatched it right up.

I believe what sets Grenadina out from other female-fronted acts in the scene is your transparency. Where does this influence come from?

Stefanie Petrozz: I think this strong influence just comes from within. We’re all very passionate girls with a lot to say.

“Grenadina just reflects that with four gals who know how to work our instruments.”

Steph Castor: We really just see no point in holding back. We’re not out there trying to be the next cookie-cutter female-fronted power pop act—though we do have a very strong soft spot for some notable bands. Our influences are just so vast—everything from Silversun Pickups to AFI to Brand New to Southside Chicago hip-hop. We all stick very strongly to our roots. The ones that made us want to be musicians. We don’t try to be something that we’re not. Thank you for noticing that sort of honesty.

This is your sophomore release, are there any expectations to come with the record?

Stefanie Petrozz: For me ,personally, it’s going to be all about sharing and reaching that next level. I’d go to the moon and back with these ladies. Or on tour and back…whichever was to come first.

Steph Castor: We are taking things a bit more seriously this time around. Our first EP, Pretend For Me, was way more lo-fi and DIY. While we earned a lot of respect through that approach. We are finally in a place where we are achieving a more polished and cohesive sound. We are printing this new record, along with planning several weekend tours to help keep the momentum until we are ready to begin writing and recording a full-length. We all work full time jobs, so touring isn’t as easy as we’d like it to be, but we’re definitely working out the kinks and preparing for an exciting fall.

What are your plans for after the release?

Stefanie Petrozz: Keep working, practicing and writing. All we can ask for is for everyone to share our music and hopefully enjoy it. Besides shows, it’s really about just spreading the magic of music, and what it can do for people.

Steph Castor: I foresee several more drunken nights watching Titanic and Lord of the Rings. It’s a thing we do.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B0ZODIXR36o

Written & conducted by: Matthew Leimkuehler (@callinghomematt)